Sri Lankan PM defeats no-confidence motion in Parliament

The no-confidence motion was moved by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Joint Opposition accusing Wickremesinghe of financial mismanagement and failing to tackle the outbreak of violence against the minority Muslim community.

Sri Lanka

Capitals: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte

Currency: Sri Lankan rupee

APPOINTMENTS

SBI Life Appoints Sanjeev Nautiyal As New MD & CEO

Private life insurer SBI Life Insurance has appointed Sanjeev Nautiyal as its new managing director and chief executive

He replaces Arijit Basu, who takes over a key role in the State Bank of India Group.

SBI Life, set up in 2001, is a joint venture between State Bank and BNP Paribas Cardif.

SBI Life

Headquarters: Mumbai

Julius Maada Bio elected Sierra Leone president

In Sierra Leone, the Election Commission has declared main opposition candidate Julius Maada Bio as the West African nation’s new president.

The former military leader running for the Sierra Leone Peoples Party beat ruling party candidate Samura Kamara.

Sierra Leone

Capital: Freetown

Currency: Leone

Himanta Biswa Sarma Elected BAI President

Assam Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was unanimously elected as the Badminton Association of India (BAI) President during its annual general body meeting in Goa.

Ajay Kumar Singhania was elected the Secretary General while former Tamil Nadu Badminton Association president and former Union minister Anbumani Ramadoss was elected treasurer.

Badminton Association of India

President: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Headquarters: Lucknow

Subrata Bhattacharjee Appointed as Next Ambassador of India to Serbia

Shri Subrata Bhattacharjee (IFS: 1989),has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Serbia.

She is currently Joint Secretary in Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Serbia.

Serbia

Capital: Belgrade

Currency: Serbian dinar

BANKING AND ECONOMY

1st Bi-monthly Monetary Policy Statement Released by RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept interest rates unchanged and the central bank forecast economic growth in the current year at 7.4 per cent.

Liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) unchanged at 6.0%.

Consequently, the Reverse Repo Rate (RRR) under the LAF remains at 5.75%, and the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 6.25%.

SPORTS

Commonwealth Games 2018: Bermuda’s Duffy wins first gold

World champion Flora Duffy of Bermuda stormed to victory in the women’s triathlon to win the first gold medal of the 21st Commonwealth Game.

The Weightlifter P Gururaja opened India’s medal account claiming a silver in the men’s 56kg category in Gold Coast. Weightlifter and current world champion Mirabai Chanu has clinched India’s first gold medal of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXI Commonwealth Games and the event is being held at Carrara Stadium, Australia.

Kenya set to host 2019 Commonwealth Games.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Maritime Day- April 5

The National Maritime Day is observed on April 5.

The theme of 55th edition of the National Maritime Day 2018 celebrations is “Indian Shipping – An Ocean of opportunity”.

International Mine Awareness Day- April 4

The International Mine Awareness Day is observed on April 4.

The theme of International Mine Awareness Day 2018 is “Advancing Protection, Peace and Development.